BRIGADIER GENERAL RAY HENRY CLARK

Ray Henry Clark was born in Gueyden, La., on Sept. 19, 1896. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1918, and then served as a private in the Signal Reserve from March 2, 1918, until he was appointed a first lieutenant (temporary) in the Air Service on July 20, 1918. From July to December 1918 he was assigned to Rockwell Field, Calif., where he completed a Pursuit and Aerial Gunnery Course. He then was ordered the Headquarters Aero General Supply Depot and Concentration Camp, N.Y., until he was honorably discharged from the Army on Dec. 9, 1918.

Upon being commissioned a second lieutenant of the Air Service in the Regular Army on Nov. 1, 1921, he was assigned to the Primary Flying School, Carlstrom Field, Fla. He graduated in April 1922, and then proceeded to Kelly Field, Texas, where he completed the bombardment course at the Air Service Advanced Flying School in September 1922. He remained at Kelly Field as a Supply Officer of the 26th Attack Squadron, and in January 1923 became Engineering and Operations Officer at that squadron. The following October he was named Engineering and Operations Officer for the 13th Attack Squadron at Kelly Field, and served there until May 1924 when he proceeded to Fort Bliss, Texas, for duty with the 2nd Division, Air Service. From July 1924 to July 1925 he was Engineer, Air Service, 2nd Division, and then joined the 12th Observation Squadron, serving at Biggs Field, Fort Bliss, and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as Engineering and Transportation Officer.

In September 1926 he became Assistant to the Engineering Officer, Rockwell Air Intermediate Depot, Calif., and in March 1927 was named Operations Officer at that station, in addition to his other duties. His next assignment was to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he joined the 75th Service Squadron as Adjutant and Operations Officer in July 1934. From January to March 1935, he was in command of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, at Schofield Barracks, and then resumed his duties as squadron Adjutant. He assumed command of the 19th Pursuit Squadron in July 1935, and served in that capacity until his return to the U.S. in May 1936.

He proceeded to the Presidio of San Francisco, Calif., the following month, and became Assistant to the Air Officer, Headquarters Ninth Corps Area. In August 1936 he was assigned to Chanute Field, Ill., as Assistant Station Technical Inspector and Assistant Station Administrative Inspector. He subsequently was named Station Technical Inspector and Station Administrative Inspector at that post. From July 1938 to June 1939, he served as Post Operations Officer, Chanute Field, and then was on duty, successively, as Station Technical Inspector, Commanding Officer of the 1st School Squadron, and Engineering Officer for transient aircraft, until June 1940. During this assignment he was on detached service at the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Ala., from January 1940 until he graduated the following April.

In July 1940 he moved to the Fairfield Air Depot, Ohio, as Air Corps Technical Supervisor until January 1942 when he was ordered to Washington, D.C., for duty in the office of the Director of Technical Inspection, Headquarters Army Air Forces, where he was designated Air Force Technical Supervisor. From September 1942 to January 1943, he served as Technical Supervisor, Tenth Air Force, at New Delhi, India, and then assumed command of an air base in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations. In October 1943 he was assigned as Air Inspector of the same theater of operations.

He is rated a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant Nov. 1, 1921
Captain Aug. 1, 1935
Major July 1, 1940
Lieutenant Colonel (temporary) July 22, 1941
Colonel (temporary) March 1, 1942
Brigadier General (temporary) Feb. 27, 1944

(Current as of March 21, 1944)